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Desert Center, CA
Full City Profile · California · Imperial County County
2.9
/5.0
C+
Fair
167
Population
5/sq mi density
$72,857
Median Income
$25,685 per capita
$221,200
Home Value
$258,145 Zillow
$1,192
Median Rent
22.1% income on rent
74°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
353
Violent Crime/100K
177 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$72,857 median income, 5.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$221,200 home value, $1,192/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
353 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
15.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$72,857
3% below
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$25,685
34% below
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
64% above
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
14.0%
13% above
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Desert Center vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Desert Center’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$72,857
97%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$25,685
66%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$50,076
70%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,051
73%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,051
27% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
12 min
56% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
5.9%
61% below US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
58.8%
20% below US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.0%
100% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$12,907M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
58.8%
Public Transit
0%
Work From Home
5.9%
Other
35.3%
Average commute time
12 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
9,795
Restaurants
280
Healthcare
322
Retail
429
Manufacturing
68
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$50,076
30% below US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$4,268
22% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
110.7
Above national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $72,857 |
| Per Capita Income | $25,685 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $50,076 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,051 |
| County GDP | $12,907M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 14.0% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.459 |
| Cost of Living Index | 110.7 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 12 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 58.8% |
| Public Transit | 0.0% |
| Work From Home | 5.9% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 9,795 |
| Restaurants | 280 |
| Healthcare | 322 |
| Retail | 429 |
| Manufacturing | 68 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $50,076 |
| Avg Property Tax | $4,268 |